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East County | Schools

Madison Bierl
June 11, 2025

Lakewood Ranch Junior Ranchers learn about agriculture through camp

Counselors help the kids learn hands-on lessons about cows, snakes and insects.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
June 10, 2025

Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student

Oliver Fell was charged with lewd conduct against a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor.

East County
News

Madison Bierl
June 4, 2025

Manatee school board will vote to give charters a cut of half-penny tax

Since 2023, charter schools have not received funding from the half-penny sales tax.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
June 4, 2025

Manatee school board wants fast process to find new superintendent

The School Board of Manatee County aims to have a new superintendent in place by the time the 2025-26 school year begins in August.

East County
Schools

Eric Garwood
June 3, 2025

Haile Middle School teacher arrested on charge of lewd contact

The student told deputies that the teacher sent an explicit photo.

East County
News

Madison Bierl
June 2, 2025

Students begin high school early with Lakewood Ranch Prep Soar program

Students in the Soar program have the opportunity to earn as many as 60 college credits during their five-year high school career.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 30, 2025

Two Lakewood Ranch High teachers retire after 38-year careers

Bryan Thomas has taught at LWRHS since its opening while Daniel Bryan-Beachler has taught at the school since 2001.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 30, 2025

Manatee school district leaders thank bus drivers the last day of the school year

The bus drivers' "wave-off" has been a tradition since 2015 in the School District of Manatee County.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 24, 2025

ODA graduates reflect on the road ahead

The top graduates of ODA were heavily involved in horseback riding, sports and stem based activities while maintaining success in the classroom.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 23, 2025

East County robotics teams perform well at world championships

Haile Middle placed third in its division, and Mona Jain Middle placed second in its division for teamwork.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 20, 2025

Manatee School Board fires superintendent

Mainly citing concerns over communication, the Manatee County School Board on Tuesday fired Superintendent Jason Wysong with just over 13 months remaining on his contract.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 20, 2025

Lakewood Ranch High honored with Support Music Merit Award

The award from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 19, 2025

Mona Jain Middle of Lakewood Ranch hosts its second annual Art Show

Digital and traditional art pieces were featured at the show using different mediums.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 15, 2025

Commencement speaker punctuates Braden River High's graduation ceremony

Louann McCord says graduation is just a "comma" in the students' lives.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 14, 2025

Willis Elementary fifth grader wins contest with essay on grandma

Mark Eubanks won the Florida Retired Educators Association contest for Manatee County with his essay "Chess with my grandma."

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 14, 2025

Lakewood Ranch High School graduates hit the finish line

Valedictorian Olivia Spiegel compares graduation to winning a big race.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 13, 2025

LECOM strikes deal with Lakewood Ranch Prep for future acceptance

Lakewood Ranch Prep is the fourth high school in the nation to strike such an agreement with LECOM.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 9, 2025

Willis Elementary principal leaving for new challenge

Price said Willis has become her home away from home, but she was in need of a change.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 7, 2025

Manatee County aims to fill school bus driver shortage

Between sick days, vacations and leaves of absence, Manatee County needs more bus drivers to ensure students get to school efficiently.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 6, 2025

Lake Manatee K-8 school is set to open for elementary students in August

HKS Architects and Designers along with NDC Construction Company are working to ensure they deliver phase one in time for the 2025-2026 school year.

East County
Schools

Lesley Dwyer
May 3, 2025

'The Lion King Jr.' pounces onto the stage

Students at the Woodland Fine Arts Academy have been working on the production since August.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 3, 2025

Past Braden River Elementary students gather before graduating high school

Seven years after graduating elementary school, Manatee County seniors reunited with old friends and teachers to reminisce before graduating high school and heading separate ways once more.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
May 2, 2025

Sea of Strengths Academy receives grant for new playground

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation presented them with a grant for $8,700 to go towards the playground after Kelly Gonzalez, a parent at the school, wrote approximately 30 different ones.

East County
Neighbors

Madison Bierl
May 1, 2025

McNeal Elementary nurtures student leaders through Leader In Me program

The seven habits are “Be Proactive,” “Begin with the End In Mind,” “Put First Things First,” “Think Win-Win,” “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” “Synergize” and “Sharpen the Saw.”

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 30, 2025

Manatee County teacher accused of inappropriate behavior resigns

A parent of a child at B.D. Gullett Elementary urged the school board to terminate the fifth grade teacher instead of accepting his resignation.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 29, 2025

Local mural artist volunteers his talent to beautify McNeal Elementary

Alex Benson has painted three murals at the Lakewood Ranch school.

East County
Neighbors

Madison Bierl
April 26, 2025

Lakewood Ranch High senior ready to begin career at US Naval Academy

Vicente Rivera says he loves structure so a military academy is a great fit.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 23, 2025

Braden River Middle students experience real-life civics lesson

The students took a road trip to Tallahassee to visit the Florida State Capitol.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 22, 2025

Young actors love the challenge of 'Hadestown: Teen Edition'

It was a different kind of challenge for the Ovation School of Musical Theatre students.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 20, 2025

Braden River Elementary showcases project-based learning at Innovation Expo

The first graders developed a love for bees and planted flowers to attract them.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 19, 2025

'Hadestown' will be Braden River High theater director's final show

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall is leaving Braden River High after 15 years.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 13, 2025

Tara's Ray of Sunshine has brightened the lives of students for two decades

Raymond Turner, a volunteer tutor at Tara Elementary School, has been offering his math skills and advice since 2004.

East County
Schools

Madison Bierl
April 9, 2025

Three East County schools headed to Vex Robotics World Championship

Gilbert W McNeal Elementary School, Virgil Mills Elementary School, Carlos E. Haile Middle School and Dr. Mona Jain Middle School are going to compete in Dallas, Texas.